Hub-odometer



0. n. RICHARD. HUB ODOMETER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11. 191. 1 54,003. Patelltedsept- 28, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

C. D. RICHARD.

HUB ODOMETER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11, 1917- 1,354,003. PatentedSept. 28, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFHIE.

CHARLES RONA? BECK-KARE, GE NEW YORK, El. 2'.

HUB-OBQMETEJR.

Application filed .Tune 11,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES D. RICHARD, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York city, in the borough of Manhattan and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inHub-Odometers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mileage recorders, and more particularly hasspecial reference to devices known as hub-odometers, or devices carriedby the hub of a vehicle wheel for registering the number of milestraveled by the vehicle.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter set forth having novel means for driving the registermechanism. That is to say, the present invention contemplates apractical and reliable operating mechanism for a mileage recorder orcounter of the rotary type, whereby either backward or forward movementof the vehicle wheel may be accurately recorded.

Another object of the invention is to provide a substantial constructionwherein the relatively delicate operating mechanism for the registerwill be carefully mounted and protected, both from the weather, oil,dirt and grease and also from shocks and jars incident to the varyingwheel load thrusts occuring between the vehicle wheel and the axle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and eflicientconnection between the axle and the register mechanism, whereby thelatter will be held in a relatively fixed position within the odometercasing, and not in any way affected by the movement of the vehiclewheel. v

With the above and other objects in view which will more readily appearas the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consistsin the novel construction, combination and arrangement of partshereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed. V

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinalsectional view of my improved odometer.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the rotor element of the odometer, and theregister operating mechanism, the register being partly broken away tomore clearly show the latter.

Fig. 3 is a detail side elevation of a carrier Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Sept. 28, 1926.

1917. Serial N0. 174,078.

plate and operating mechanism for the register carried thereby.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the construction shown in Fig.1, illustrating more clearly the relation of the operating parts of theregister mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the rotor element of the odometer showing moreclearly the cam for actuating the yoke of the register operatingmechanism.

Fig. 6 is a detail plan View of the yielding coupling element utilizedbetween the axle and the stationary element of the odometer.

Similar references designate corresponding (parts thronghout the severalfigures of the rawlngs.

In carrying the present invention into effect, it is proposed to providean odometer construction wherein the register device is stationary,while the casing which houses the same rotates with the hub.Accordingly, it is contemplated to provide a register device having anovel connection with the axle of the wheel whereby the same may be heldsta-' tionary in the casing carried by the hub of said wheel, while atthe same time, it is also proposed to provide a novel register operatingmechanism which includes a two-way camming device and a combinedadvancing and check element which operates to both advance and check therotation of the wheel which operates the register itself, always in onedirection, regardless of the direction in which the vehicle moves.

Accordingly, the invention preferably includes in its organization asubstantially frusto-conical casing member 1 having therein the window2, and provided at its large open end with suitable threads 3 forreceiving the threaded portion of the vehicle wheel hub H. This casingor shell is'preferably provided with an interior shoulder S havingadjacent thereto a threaded portion 4. for receiving the externallythreaded flange 5 of the rotor element 6.

The said rotor element 6 preferably has formed in each face thereof arecess, designated respectively B and R, and is also provided with acentral opening 7 Concentric with said opening 7 and at one end thereof,is provided a bearing projection or hub 8, while at the opposite end ofthe opening there is further rovided a second bearing projection or huli9, the latter loosely receiving thereon the stator element 10, which islocated entirely Within the recess R,

while the projection 8 has fitted thereto a. suitable operating ear 11,whlch is located in the recess R. his construction may be clearlyobserved from. Fig. 1 of the drawings, and also from Fig. 5, which showsthe rotor element 6, in such a manner that the mounting of the gear 11on the bearing projection 8 may be readily understood. As will beobserved from Fig. 5, the gear 11 15 preferably locked to rotate withthe bearing projection 8 by means of a pin 12, though, of course,equivalent means may be utilized.

A ain referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, it Wlll be observed that theregister device designated in its entirety by the reference character Dis suitably mounted on a carrier plate 13 having a centrally arrangedsupporting post 14 for loosely entering the opening 7 in the rotorelement, whereby the movement of the latter may not be imparted to thecarrier plate. The extremity of the post 14 is preferably reduced indiameter, as shown, and connected by means of a pin 15, or itsequivalent, with the stator element 10, which latter is connected withthe axlerA of the vehicle wheel by means of a novel and practicalcoupling device, designated gen-.

erally as C, and hereinafter more fully described. The register deviceD, above referred to, is preferably of the rotary type, and includes ashaft 16 having thereon a ratchet disk 17 adapted to be operated upon bya novel register operating mechanism which includes a'two-way cam deviceactu ated by the gear 11 on the projection 8 of the rotor element 6.

In connection with the register operating mechanism which transfersmovement to the ratchet wheel 16 from the rotor element, ref erence willfirst be made to the two-way cam device which compels the register tomove in the same direction at all times regardless of whether thevehicle is traveling backward or forward. This two-way cam deviceessentially comprises the cam members 18 and 19 both of which areconcentrically mounted upon a suitable supporting spindle 2O arranged atone side of the post 14 of the carrier plate 13. The engaging faces ofeach cam member have complementary double beveled projections so thatwhen the cam 19 rotates in either a clockwise or counterclockwisedirection, it will impart a reciprocating motion to the other cam 18. Inorder to provide for the necessary rotary movement of the cam 19. thesame is preferably carried by a sleeve 21 which is mounted on thespindle 20, and constitutes a bearing for the spindle in the carrierplate 13. The end of the said sleeve 21 opposite the cam 19 projectsbeyond the rear face of said carrier plate and has rigidly securedthereto a suitable operating gear 22 which is adapted to mesh directlywith the gear 11 carried on the hub extension 8 of the rotor 6.

The other cam member 18 which'is loosely 4 mounted on the spindle 20 isrigid with the lower end 23 of a swin ing arm 24 carried by a suitablerock shaft, as will-presently appear, and the said lower end of the armis engaged by one end of a spring 25 which is confined between a washer26 on the end of the spindle 20 and the rear face of said end 23 of thearm, whereby the spring will force the cam member 18 into engagementwith the cam 19. Therefore, it will be apparent that when 'the cammember 19 is rotated through the movement of the intermeshed gears 11and 22, the cam member 18 will be reciprocated on the spindle 20 againstthe tension of the spring 25, and thus move the lower end of the arm 24.This action is provided for by the special formation of the engaging orworking faces of the cams 18 and 19 which as previously pointed out arecomplementary double beveled camming faces.

As previously indicated, the cam member 18 of the two-way cam device iscarried by one end of a swinging arm 24, which is fastened to a rockshaft 27 by means of a pin 28, which rock shaft 27 is respectivelyjournaled in the offset bearing arms 29 and 30 of the carrier plate 13.These offset bearing arms are preferably of different length, that is,the arm 30 nearest the ratchet wheel 17 of the register device D ispreferably of such length as to accommodate a novel arrangement ofdriving pawls for the said ratchet wheel which also act as a check toprevent any retrograde movement of the wheel under the jars and shocksof travel.

The end of the shaft 27 which projects through the offset arm 30 hasrigidly fitted thereto a pinion 31 having eccentrically mounted thereona suitable pawl 32 adapted to engage with the teeth of the ratchet wheel17. This pawl is preferably maintained 1n engagement with the teeth ofthe ratchet wheel by means of a spring 33. In addition to supporting theshaft 27, the arm 30 also carries at one side of the shaft 27 a gear 34meshing with the gear 31 and having eccentrically pivoted thereto a pawl35 which is preferably under tension of a spring 36. and also engagesthe teeth of the ratchet wheel 17. Thus, the arm 30 supports a combinedcheck and advancing pawl device for operating the ratchet wheel 17. Thatis to say, the intermeshed gears 31 and 34 respectively carrying theeccentrically mounted pawls 32 and 35 cooperate to alternately advancethe ratchet disk 17 and also act as a check as previously pointed out.When the shaft 27 is ocked the gear 31 oscillates, and thereby imparts areverse oscillating motion to the gear 34. Thus, when the shaft 27 rocksin a counter-clockwise direction, the gear 31 will cause its pawl 32 topush downwardly against the teeth 01 ter operating mechanism,

essence the ratchet wheel 17 and thus advance .he-

same, while at tie same time, the gear 34 will be moved in a clockwisedirection, whereby its pawl 35 will trail idly over the teeth of theratchet wheel. When the shaft 27 rocks back the other way, 2". e. in aclockwise direction, the reverse action takes place, the pawl 35becoming the driving pawl;

Referring now to the manner of operation of the mechanism, it will beapparent that the register device D being supported on the carrier plate13, which is connected with the stator element 10, will occupy arelatively fixed position in the casing of the odometer, while themovement necessary to actuate the register operating mechanism isimparted by the gear 11 associated with the rotor element 6. That is tosay, when the vehicle wheel moves in either a back ward or forwarddirection, the rotor element 6 of the device will cause a correspondingmovement of the gear 11 which will rotate the gear 21 and consequentlythe cam 19, and the latter will, with the help of the spring 25,reciprocate the cam 18 on the spindle 20 and rock the swinging ;arm 24.Thus, ment on account of the cam 18 bearing against the cam 19, and theswinging movement of the arm 24 is turned into a rocking movement of theshaft 27, since the said arm is connected to the latter by means of thepin 28, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. This rockingmovementof the shaft 27 causes a reciprocating movement of the gear 31and since the latter is meshed with the gear 34, it will be apparentthat these gears will always oscillate in opposite directions. Thus,while the shaft 27 is rocking in a counter-clockwise direction, the pawl32 of the gear 31 will cause the ratchet disk 17 to rotate the space ofone tooth forward, while the pawl 35 of the gear 34 will be pulled up.into such a position with respect to another of the teeth of the ratchetdisk that when the shaft 27 rocks in a clockwise direction, it willadvance the disk 17. Accordingly, it will be apparent that while thepawl of one gear is advancing, the pawl of the other gear is coming intoposition to get behind the tooth of the ratchet wheel to advance thelatter when the shaft 27 rocks in a reverse direction.

Having above described the novel regisreference will now be made to thepractical feature of the invention which provides for holding the plate13 which carries the register deviceD stationary, that is, the meanswhich connects the said'plate with the axle A of the vehicle. Aspreviously indicated, the said plate 13 is provided with a centrallylocated integral post 14 which is connected-by means nected as at 42.The body of t the arm 24 is given a swlnglng move-- end of said rockshaf device for operating Ar a a pin 15 with the stator ciement and.this stator element is in turn connected by a novel ieldabie couplingwith the To provide for the engagement of this novel coupling devicewith the stator 10, the lat ter is preferably formed with suitablesockets 38 in its rear face, for receiving the studs 39 of the saidcoupling device C. This coupling device C preferably comprises two bowedspring sections 40 and 41,,each including a similar number of radiallydisposed spring arms which are hin 'edly conhe section 41 is preferablyprovided with the key studs 43 similar to the studs 39 for entering asuitable socket 44 in the endof the axle A. Thus, when the odometer isapplied to the hub of the vehicle wheel, the coupling device C ispositively interlocked with the stator element of the mechanism, andalso with the axle on which the wheel is held stationary, but is notsubjected to any lateral thrusts, shocks or jars that may occur betweenthe hub of the wheel and the axle.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the features and advantages ofthe present invention will be readily apparent without furtherdescription, andit will, of course, be understood that changes in theform, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted towithout departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of theappended claims.

claim:

1. A hub odometer including a rotor element, a stator element, aregister device connected with said stator element and having anoperating wheel, and means for operating said register device including"a rock shaft having an operating engagement with said wheel of theregister device, a two-way cam device for operating said rock shaftincluding a swinging arm carried by said shaft and having a cam at itsfree end, a sleeve mounted at right-angles to said rock shaft andcarrying another cam for engaging with said cam on the swinging arm, agear carried by the end of said sleeve opposite the, cam, and a gearcarried by the rotor element for meshing with said other gear.

2. A hub odometer including a rotor element, a stator element, a carrierplate connected with said stator element, a register device havin anoperating wheel mounted on said carrier plate, means for operating saidregister device including a rock shaft journaled in said carrier plateabove the register device, means connected with one t, for operating theopre'gister, a two-way cam said rock shaft includa swinging arm mountedupon the other of the rock shaft, a sleeve loosely journaled in thecarrier plate, a cam at one end of said sleeve, a gear at the other endof said crating wheel of the sleeve, :1 spindle mounted insaid sleeveand extending toone side thereof, a cam carried by the free end of saidswinging arm and slidable on the spindle, a spring on said spindle forpressing said latter cam into engagement with the cam on said sleeve,and a gear carried by the rotor element for actuating the gear on thesleeve.

3. A hub-odometer including a casing, a register device therein, a rotorelement carried by the casing and operatively connected with theregister device, a stator, and a coupling unit interposed between thestator and fixed part of the vehicle consisting of articulated springsections provided at their meeting portions with complemental pintlepinreceiving portions for receiving a hinge pintle-pin.

t. A coupling device for hub odometers including the combination with avehicle wheel axle and a stator element, of a yieldable coupling deviceconnecting the stator and axle, said coupling device including duplicatesections having a plurality of radial bowed spring arms hingedlyconnected at their meeting ends, and each section having means fordetachably engaging with the stator and axle respectively.

5. A driving mechanism for hub odometer registers includin a ratchetoperating wheel for the register, intermeshed gears having eccentricallymounted pawls for alternately engaging the teeth of said wheel, arockable shaft connected with one of said gears and means foroscillating said shaft.

6. A driving mechanism for hub odometer registers including a ratchetoperating wheel for the register, intermeshed gears, spring-pressedpawls eccentrically carried by said gears and having their free endsarranged to advance the ratchet wheel alternately, an oscillating shaftfor one of said gears, and means for operating said oscillatmg shaft.

A driving mechanism for hub odometer registers including an operatingwheel, intermeshed gears having eccentrically mounted pawls, and anoscillating operating shaft connected with one of said gears.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

CHARLES DONAT RICHARD.

GEo. J. CORBE'IT.

